Hill AFB authorizes same-sex marriage ceremonies

Dec. 30, 2013 - 06:00AM
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SALT LAKE CITY — An Air Force Base in Utah is authorizing ceremonies for same-sex marriages.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Hill Air Force Base is taking the move after a federal judge struck down Utah’s same-sex marriage ban, making Utah the 18th state to allow same-sex marriage.

Hill Air Force Base spokesman Richard Essary says nobody was immediately requesting a ceremony. Hill has more than 20,000 military and civilian personnel. The U.S. military allows same-sex marriage ceremonies on installations in states that recognize gay marriage.

The U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes says Master Sgt. Angela Shunk and Tech Sgt. Stacey Shunk transferred to Hill from Aviano Air Base, Italy, earlier this year as the first same-sex couple to receive what the military calls a join spouse assignment.